Hebrews 11.12-16 - City of Immigrants
We are citizens of a land that is and yet to come. This leaves us in an awkward place where we desire heaven and begin to live in the truth of the presence of the Kingdom of God, but must dwell in the kingdom of men. This hope enables us to suffer well, to quell rising anxieties, and to declare this hope to any and all around us.
Hebrews 11.12 - Paint By Numers
A Covenant is made by God. That through Abraham and his descendants, a blessing would flow out into the rest of the world. This is a covenant of blood, and one that Abraham would be unable to fulfill. But Abraham does not walk through the blood, God does Himself, for He will be the promisor and executor, sacrifice and priest, God and King.
From Tragedy to Triumph - Dean Gavaris
Micah in 3 Parts - God's Courtroom - Chapters 6-7
In His final proclamation, God through His prophet Micah calls Israel to court. Through witness testimony, clear evidence, and proven criminal offenses, Israel is revealed to be guilty. Israel’s desire to be like the other nations has come to fruition into being judged like the other nations. Yet God is faithful, and those who call upon Him still have hope.
Micah in 3 Parts - God's Kingdom - Chapters 3-5
God has always been king. Yet Israel has never been satisfied with this truth, so they have pursued other kings, other gods, and found themselves in the hands of other nations. What would God as king look like? This is the picture that Micah chapters 3-5 paints for us, that we may know the difference between a righteous and unrighteous kingdom.
Micah in 3 Parts - God's Triumph - Chapters 1-2
Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah. While Isaiah spoke in the courts to kings, priests, and rulers, Micah spoke to the common people. Though their audience was different, the message was the same: God’s judgment is coming to the sinful and God’s restoration is coming for the faithful.
Hebrews 11.11 - The Last Laugh
Sarah seems to have certain qualities that scripture implies rather than states. She appears beautiful enough to tempt two rulers, submissive enough to follow her husband who heard the voice of God, and honest enough that she would laugh at God’s promise of child-bearing into her 90’s. Finally she was faithful enough to trust God to have the last laugh.
Hebrews 11.8-10 - A Long Walk
Abraham is an idolater. A man following the false-gods of his father. Until God speaks. Abraham hears the call of God and immediately arises to obey the word of God. Given a promise of an inheritance that would not be granted for another 430 years, he still moved his family, sight unseen, to the land that God had spoken of.
Hebrews 11.7 - Hell or High Water
The righteous man Noah find himself amidst a generation so evil that God lamented even the making of man. Noah is an amazing example of obedience, endurance, and patience, because Noah was a man of faith. It’s Noah’s faithfulness in God that makes him righteous, by God’s hand he perseveres and becomes a father to us all.
Hebrews 11.4-6 - Willing and Abel
We encounter our first two characters in the hall of faith. Abel and Enoch are pre-Noah men of righteousness who seek the face of God. Their stories are simple, which is often mistaken for mysterious, but it misses the point to overly-spiritualize these men. They were men of God, honored more for their faithfulness, than their accomplishments.
Hebrews 11.3 - Invisible Forces
Faith is trust in God. Though we cannot see Him we know Him. More than knowing that He exists it is being in relationship with Him and trusting in His character, His power, His promises. In Hebrews we see amazing examples of faith that are to build our own confidence in who God is and confidence in who we are because of and in Him.
Hebrews 10.26-39 - Hopes and Fears
Another warning passage of Hebrews appears and this one with a powerful truth, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” But as fearful as it is in our seen, it’s is beyond amazing in the righteousness of Christ, imputed to us that we may be lifted up by the very hand of God, from sinners to sons and daughters.
Father's Day 2023 - Father of Mine
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Prov 22.6 This is a double-edged proverb. It’s not only the Godly and good that follows our children, but also our sins and failures. To be a good father is to model ourselves after our heavenly Father, and walk a path of humility.
Hebrews 10.19-25 - Lettuce Pray 3
The church is not a building or ritual, but the very body of believers united in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Gathering together nurtures the body to draw closer to God, encourage one another, and grow in love and service. When we neglect that meeting we starve our spiritual lives and live not even on the bread of the word, but on crumbs.
Hebrews 10.19-25 - Lettuce Pray 2
When the world feels like it’s shaking around us we tend to turn to panic, despair, distraction, or any number of other paths that lead us not towards peace, but away from God and the comfort that He provides. Let us instead hold fast to our confession of Hope in a tumultuous world and cling to the God of salvation.
Hebrews 10.19-25 - Lettuce Pray 1
Moving on from the fact of Christ as our High Priest, the writer of Hebrews call us into action. To draw near to God, holding fast to the truth of the Gospel, and stirring up one another. This week we will dive into the first two “Let Us” commands as we remember this great gift of Christ, that God has provided for our salvation and sanctification.
Hebrews 10.1-18 - Turning It Inside Out
God does more than save us, he remembers our sins no more, imprints His law onto our hearts and minds, and empowers us with confidence in who He is and what He is able to accomplish through us. This is the work of the new covenant, and the power of the cross. It begins in us and works its way out into the world.
Isaiah 40.11 - Say Hello to Your Mother for Me
Everyone has a mother, even the Son of God. This is a day not only to celebrate mothers, but to remember them, to pray for them. What does it mean to be a mother? It means to hurt, to carry, to love, to die to self as you pour yourself out for your children. So what can we say? What do mother’s need to hear?
Hebrews 9 - House of Gold
The Temple is just a shadow of heaven. When Moses was on top of the mountain, God showed Him the tabernacle, a small piece of the presence of God that would dwell on earth to act as embassy, temple, and house. When Christ dies, the temple becomes obsolete, for what use is the shadow when the substance stands before us.
Hebrews 8 - Hard Bargain
God has made an agreement with the nation of Israel. If they follow after His heart and obey His commands, they will live and prosper in the land He has given. But they cannot obey; and neither can we. Thank be to God He has made a way to salvation, not based on our works, but the accomplishment of Christ. By His blood we find salvation.
Rev. Kevin Bishop - They Kingdom Come
Kevin and Margie Bishop join us this Sunday. The Bishops are members of First Baptist serving in Ecuador as pastor-training missionaries, while also engaging in evangelism and outreach through their Dental Brigade and other services. This is a very special Sunday to join together and rejoice alongside of them for the great work God is doing.
Easter 2023 - Risen One
Today we rejoice in the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He who broke the bonds of sin and death, leading us out of the domain of darkness and into His Kingdom of marvelous light. Let us not get caught up in the stresses and anxieties of the world, for He has conquered the world, and has made us more than conquerors.
Easter 2023 - Exalted One
High and lifted up is our Lord Jesus, who has ascended to sit at the right hand of the father, to judge to living and the dead. His work on the cross now complete, we await the day when He will arise from His throne in heaven and establish His kingdom in the New Heaven and New Earth. While we wait, He intercedes on our behalf.
Easter 2023 - Separated One
Christ is separate from us. Right now physically He sits exalted in heaven at the right hand of God. Yet by the Spirit of God placed inside of us through our faith in Him, we are bound to Him in an intimate relationship that surpasses our understanding. This is Christ, separate in His sinlessness, His sacrifice, and His service as our High Priest.
Easter 2023 - Unstained One
The pure, holy one has come down from heaven taking on the form of a bondservant, but unstained by sin. By His virgin birth and perfect obedience, Christ is able to remain unstained and even purify us through faith in Him. How can we remain pure in a world stained with sin? Only to follow the Christ who has paved the way.
Easter 2023 - Innocent One
The Innocent One is proven innocent on every occasion. From His baptism to His death, from the Jewish Elite to the Roman Rule, Jesus is the Innocent One, the Lamb of God who committed no sin, in whom no guilt is found. In our own guilt He makes us innocent before God, sinless and right with our Father in Heaven.
Easter 2023 - Holy One
The blood is the life. The wages of sin is death, and what better symbol is there then the spilling of life to show the penalty of our sin. As much blood that would be shed at the temple for the centuries of its operation, it was only enough to cover, not to pay for sin. It’s not the quantity of blood that mattered, but the quality. A perfect, sinless lamb.
